As an agency heavily involved with spatial and mapping information, the CGS is moving more and more to dynamic GIS data presentation for ease-of-use and for the many options that GIS tools allow. Almost all of our current projects and publications have substantial GIS components.
Please see the mapping section for more detailed information about how we generate and process spatial information.
In 2020 the CGS adopted the USGS Geologic Map Schema Standard (GeMS) database design for STATEMAP-funded geologic maps. More information about this critical information resource and the standards it incorporates may be found on the USGS National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB) site.
We are slowly building out our library of online GIS maps that offer refined views of Colorado geology along the associated derivatives. We know that these are of use to our various constituencies. We continue to assess our entire GIS dataspace for new packages of data that we can bring online as time passes.
ENERGY
ON-007 — ENERGY Base Map — This GIS map has not yet been deployed, but will include any/all of the available GIS information that we have pertaining to Energy Resources in Colorado.
ON-005-01 — Colorado Geothermal Resources — Includes hot spring locations and uses; heat flow data and thermal gradients.
GEOLOGY
ON-004 — GEOLOGY Base Map — This GIS map has not yet been deployed, but will include any/all of the available GIS information that we have pertaining to Geology Resources in Colorado.
ON-001 — Colorado Earthquake and Fault Map — shows a variety of information including Cenozoic faults. (supersedes publications B-46; B-52; B-52B, and IS-60).
ON-004-01 — StateMap Progression Map — shows the quadrangles that have been geologically mapped across the state, both USGS and CGS maps. Of Colorado’s approximately 1,800 7.5-minute quads, more than 500 have been mapped and there are usually around ten that are in progress at any one time.
ON-004-02 — Colorado POGI Map — Reviving this popular map of Colorado Points of Geologic Interest was a high priority, and here it is as a shared Google Map. Comments welcome!
HAZARDS
ON-006 — HAZARDS Base Map — This GIS map has not yet been deployed, but will include any/all of the available GIS information that we have pertaining to Hazard Resources in Colorado.
ON-001 — Colorado Earthquake and Fault Map — shows a variety of information including Cenozoic faults. (supersedes publications B-46 & B-52 & B-52B & IS-60).
ON-006-01 — Statewide Landslide Inventory Map —
ON-006-02 — Statewide Index of Landslide Susceptibility Data —
ON-006-03 — Raspberry Shake live link —
ON-006-04 — Statewide Collapsible Soils —
ON-006-05 — Seismic Stations —
ON-006-06 — Colorado Historic Coal Mines —
MINERALS
ON-007 — MINERALS Base Map — This GIS map has not yet been deployed, but will include any/all of the available GIS information that we have pertaining to Mineral Resources in Colorado.
ON-007-01 — Aggregate Resources of Colorado — Includes information from CGS sand, gravel, and quarry aggregate publications for most of the Front Range counties, Garfield County, as well as a statewide map of older quarry locations. Also includes locations and ratings of these potential resources to assist with land use planning and resource development.
ON-007-02 — Colorado Historic Coal Mines — A compilation of all known coal mining operations in Colorado between 1864-2002: (IS-64 Historic Coal Mines of Colorado). Of the 1,700+ coal mines reported, about 90% have location data that are included on the IS-64 map. Locations include point location data and the estimated extent of the undermined areas from historic maps if available.
ON-007-03 — Mineral Resource Potential Derivative Map — Mineral resource derivative maps using 7.5-minute quadrangles published under the current CGS STATEMAP geologic mapping program. These maps show the general location and mineral potential rating of select aggregate and industrial mineral deposits by geological unit as mapped during the STATEMAP program. The maps are created from these geological maps and historic mining/quarry information to provide a general rating as to their potential for containing select mineral resources. Potential mineral resources include sand and gravel, decomposed granite, crushed stone, clay/claystone/shale, fluorspar, gypsum, limestone and dolomite, dimension stone, and others. Derivative maps are generalizations of detailed geological information that are used to assist non-geologists with evaluating complex geological information. For more about geologic mapping and what the information is used for, see our RockTalk on the subject.
ON-007-05 — StoryMap: Colorado Aggregate Resources – Geology and Industry Overview — Integrates maps, text, and photos about the location and geology of sand, gravel, and quarry aggregates in the state. Includes a description of aggregates, what they are used for, where they are found, how and why the location of these deposits are important to land-use planning, and the general geology of sand, gravel, and rock quarry aggregates.
ON-007-07 — Reconnaissance of Potential Sand Sources in Colorado for Hydraulic Fracturing — Includes data on the two plates included in: RS-47 Reconnaissance of Potential Sand Sources in Colorado for Hydraulic Fracturing. Data from over 800 sample locations across the state include photos of each sample location, photomicrographs of samples, geologic descriptions, estimates of rounding and sphericity, estimates of quartz content and friability, mineralogy, sieve results, and resource ratings.
ON-007-08D — Historic Metal Mining Districts of Colorado (Data) – v20201112 — This data download includes a compilation of individual mining district reviews, organized by county, as well as GIS shapefiles of all districts.
ON-007-08M — Historic Metal Mining Districts of Colorado (Map) – v20201112 — This GIS map includes the most current information for this project.
ON-B-40D — Radioactive Mineral Occurrences of Colorado and Bibliography — This data download includes locations and descriptions of over 2,000 radioactive mineral occurrences in Colorado. Originally published as CGS (B-40 Radioactive Mineral Occurrences of Colorado and Bibliography), locations on the original plates were combined with the information provided in the text document to create a comprehensive spreadsheet, electronic bibliography, county summary document, and GIS data download. Information includes the original mine name, location notes, mine development information, production, background radiation measurements, host rock types, alteration, mineralogy, structure, and references.
ON-B-40M — Radioactive Mineral Occurrences of Colorado and Bibliography — Includes descriptions and the locations of over 2,000 radioactive mineral occurrences in Colorado. Originally published as CGS Bulletin 40 (B-40 Radioactive Mineral Occurrences of Colorado and Bibliography), locations on the original plates were combined with the information provided in the text document to create this informative map. Location information includes the original mine name, location notes, mine development information, production, background radiation measurements, host rock types, alteration, mineralogy, structure, and references. See ON-B-40D for data associated with this map including county summary text, a spreadsheet, and the GIS data files.
ON-OF-78-08M — Select geological logs associated with coal resources, Denver and Cheyenne Basins, Colorado — Scanned geophysical and lithology logs of more than 500 wells drilled in the 1960s during coal exploration of the two basins. Useful for geologic mapping, mineral and groundwater resource evaluations, and for land-use reviews.
WATER
ON-008 — WATER Base Map — This GIS map has not yet been deployed, but will include any/all of the available GIS information that we have pertaining to Water Resources in Colorado.
ON-008-01 — Statewide County Groundwater Base Map — This GIS map has not yet been deployed, but will include any/all the available GIS information that we have pertaining to Water Resources in Colorado.
ON-008-04D — ON-008-04D U.S. Forest Service Abandoned Mine Land Inventory Project – Colorado (Data) – v20200820 — The most current downloadable data package for this historic project, comprised of GIS data collected in the 1990s; finalized as of 03 June 2011; with minor clerical updates completed as of 20 August 2020.
ON-008-04M — ON-008-04M U.S. Forest Service Abandoned Mine Land Inventory Map – Colorado (Map) —
ON-008-06 — Park County Aquifer Study —
ON-OF-15-10 — Geology and Groundwater Resources of Douglas County, Colorado —
ON-OF-15-11 — Geology and Groundwater Resources of Park County, Colorado —
ON-OF-16-04 — Geology and Groundwater Resources of Chaffee County, Colorado —
ON-OF-17-01 — Geology and Groundwater Resources of Mesa County, Colorado —
ON-010 — Colorado Groundwater Atlas — This is the web-based text along with many graphics that explore the most current state of Colorado’s groundwater.
ON-010D — Colorado Groundwater Atlas (Data) – v20200520 — The most current (20 May 2020) downloadable GIS dataset, also includes a full set of high-resolution Figures and Tables from the Atlas.
ON-010M — Colorado Groundwater Atlas (GIS) — Includes the full extent of GIS-based groundwater data currently available. This complex map is the GIS half of our new web-based Groundwater Atlas.
Third-Party Resources
Colorado Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Information map — May also be accessed through the CDPHE at the Mine Impacted Streams TaskForce. The user interface is a GIS platform and includes AML information layers which can be projected on road maps, satellite imagery, property ownership maps, watershed maps, and more.
USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) — MRDS is a collection of reports describing metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources throughout the world. Included are deposit name, location, commodity, deposit description, geologic characteristics, production, reserves, resources, and references.
USGS/AASG National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB) — The collaborative national mapping database with a wide variety of ways to see and download geological map information from both federal and state agencies.
Colorado Hazard Mapping & Risk MAP Portal — A service of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), features a extensive range of GIS and other online assets related to the CWCB mission to protect statewide water resources.
Colorado Department of Local Affairs GIS Portal — A repository for a wide range of statewide GIS data downloads.
Many of our publications include GIS_Data directories as part of the downloadable package. As always, this data is free and may be used within many standard GIS applications. We do most of our GIS production work using ArcGIS from ESRI, with the Avenza app as the go-to for field mapping and data geolocation.
Note: The CGS no longer serves LiDAR data because the State of Colorado recently opened a new map portal—Colorado Hazard Mapping—that accepts requests from the public for available statewide LiDAR data. Once you are at the Hazard Mapping site, look for the tab LiDAR Request form at the top of the screen to make your request. Statewide LiDAR coverage is found on the main Hazards map
Colorado GIS Coordination and Development Program — The primary Colorado State GIS map viewer and data download site.
Colorado Department of Local Affairs GIS Portal — A state repository for a wide range of statewide GIS data downloads.
USGS Geologic Map of Colorado — GeoTiff and KMZ versions of the classic geology of the state from Ogden Tweto, 1979.
USGS The National Map — Includes a complete range of elevation, hydrography, historical topographic datasets and much more for download.
The Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) consortium — Includes data downloads for a variety of surface land cover situations.
USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) — a collection of reports describing metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources throughout the world. Included are deposit name, location, commodity, deposit description, geologic characteristics, production, reserves, resources, and references.
USGS Prospect- and mine-related features on USGS topographic maps — a compilation of data points representing prospect pits, mine shafts and adits, quarries, open-pit mines, tailings piles and ponds, gravel and borrow pits, and other features.
The CGS began working on a select number of GIS projects some time ago, to present them as StoryMaps, we’ve gotten one done so far:
ON-007-05 — StoryMap: Colorado Aggregate Resources – Geology and Industry Overview — Integrates maps, text, and photos about the location and geology of sand, gravel, and quarry aggregates in the state. Includes a description of aggregates, what they are used for, where they are found, how and why the location of these deposits are important to land-use planning, and the general geology of sand, gravel, and rock quarry aggregates.
Third-Party Resources:
ESRI — a major player in the GIS world — introduced the online platform called StoryMaps in 2016. It has since become an important tool in conveying GIS information in a form that is more accessible to the general public.
The Bare Earth — This narrative features over 50 intriguing LiDAR images that help illustrate how geologists in Washington are using this fascinating technology to study the landscape.